Chief Financial Officer

Port of San Diego

OUR STORY

WHAT WE DO

The Port is where San Diego greets the world. Established in 1962 by the California State Legislature, we manage San Diego Bay and 34 miles of its beautiful surrounding waterfront land. We are the fourth largest of the 11 ports in California, overseeing two maritime cargo terminals, two cruise ship terminals, 22 public parks, the Harbor Police Department, and the leases of nearly 800 tenant and sub-tenant businesses around San Diego Bay. These include 18 hotels, 80 restaurants, 20 marinas and yacht clubs, three specialty retail centers, the San Diego Convention Center, and numerous other attractions including museums and bay tours. For over 50 years, our five member cities – Chula Vista, Coronado, Imperial Beach, National City, and San Diego – have worked together to develop and promote commerce, navigation, recreation, and fisheries on and around San Diego Bay. We are completely self-funded, contributing billions annually to San Diego’s economy, benefiting the community, local businesses, and employees. Businesses at the Port provide over 64,000 well-paying jobs supporting individuals and families throughout the region.

WHO WE ARE

Our Values: we work extremely hard to embed these nine values into who we are and how we operate: accountability, courage, inclusiveness, fairness, fun, innovation, integrity, teamwork, and transparency.

Our 21st Century Port Vision: we are an innovative, global seaport courageously supporting commerce, community, and the environment.

Our Mission: the Port of San Diego will protect the Tidelands Trust resources by providing economic vitality and community benefit through a balanced approach to the maritime industry, tourism, water and land recreation, environmental stewardship, and public safety.

Our Promise: to enrich the relationship people and businesses have with the dynamic waterfront of San Diego Bay, providing prosperity and a more remarkable way of life.

LEADERSHIP & CULTURE

This is an incredible time to join the Port, as we have several exciting new infrastructure projects currently under construction, with many more funded and breaking ground soon. This includes the massive Chula Vista Bayfront Redevelopment, electrification and modernization of the Port’s cargo terminals, the Central Embarcadero Waterfront Development, and major environmental enhancements around the bay. Please visit https://www.portofsandiego.org/projects for a detailed list of current, future, and recently completed projects.

In terms of leadership, we are governed by a seven-member Board of Port Commissioners. Together, they represent our five member cities and provide leadership that transcends local boundaries. Our Commissioners are very engaged in our work and extremely supportive of staff. The CFO typically presents to the Board three to four times annually and will have frequent contact with individual Commissioners on a range of matters as needed.

With over 550 staff, the Port is led by Acting President & CEO, Randa Coniglio. Coniglio was the Port of San Diego’s first woman President & CEO from 2015- 2021. She originally joined the Port in 2000 as a Senior Real Estate Asset Manager and served in multiple roles including: Area Real Estate Manager, Director of Real Estate, Assistant Vice President – Operations, Vice President – Operations, and Executive Vice President. Reporting to the President & CEO, the CFO will lead the Financial Services and Procurement teams, with two direct reports and a total combined team structure of over 50 staff. Our nine core values of accountability, courage, inclusiveness, fairness, fun, innovation, integrity, teamwork, and transparency are featured prominently in everything we do. In describing the culture, one of our Finance team members recently offered the following summary: “We are a team bonded by a common purpose built on trust and respect.”

BENEFITS & FEATURES

  • Salary – $250,000-$290,000
  • 9/80 compressed work schedule with every other Friday off
  • Medical, dental, and vision coverage
  • Life, disability, accident, and critical illness insurance
  • Retirement Plans: 457 and 401(a) defined contribution plan with a 4% match; defined benefit pension plan after five years of service
  • Social Security
  • PTO: 144 hours of annual leave, 40 hours of unclassified leave, 14 paid holidays
  • Employee assistance program
  • Flexible spending accounts
  • Tuition reimbursement and educational services scholarship
  • Wellness reimbursement, on-site wellness center, and Commuter pass reimbursement

LOCATION

This is an onsite position based at the Port’s Administration Building located at 3165 Pacific Highway, San Diego, CA 92101. The Procurement team is based in our General Services Building located at 1400 Tidelands Avenue, National City, CA 91950.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) serves as the District’s Treasurer with areas of responsibility including budgeting, finance, treasury services, analysis, reporting, and forecasting. As one of our most senior leaders, it is an extremely high-profile and visible position, both inside and outside the organization.  They will oversee the Financial and Procurement professional teams/departments, which support not only our day-to-day operations but also the critical infrastructure projects detailed earlier. The Port’s CFO is very much a hands-on position, working closely with staff at all levels across virtually every area of the organization, from the Commissioners’ Chamber to the waterfront warehouse, and everywhere in between.

Culture and morale will be key focus areas for the new CFO as they transition into the organization. They will need to first develop a deep understanding of the organization and all its complexities, learning about each department and the role it plays in supporting the mission. This includes meeting with teams and individuals to develop strong trust-based relationships and communication channels. Working collaboratively, the CFO will support innovative strategies and tactics to better leverage technology and optimize workflows, with a deep commitment to people and culture.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Exemplify a positive and engaging workplace culture.
  • Increase communication and collaboration within and between teams and departments.
  • Lead a review and update of our financial systems and procedures.
  • Partner with the Director of Finance and Director of Procurement Services to make strategic investments in terms of both people and resources, ensuring we have the right skills and capacity.
  • Create more opportunities for personal and professional advancement.
  • Oversee SAP implementation and other technology initiatives.
  • Lead our upcoming position class and compensation review and recommend updates.
  • Learn our current budgeting process and prepare for the new cycle to begin in November; identify opportunities to improve and simplify it, with an eye to achieving the Government Finance Officers Association award for excellence.

BACKGROUND PROFILE

  • Commitment to public service and the Port’s values of accountability, courage, inclusiveness, fairness, fun, innovation, integrity, teamwork, and transparency.
  • A strong moral compass and dedication to good stewardship of public funds and resources.
  • Demonstrated success in a financial management leadership role with a strategic and hands-on approach to finance, accounting, and operations, adept at analysis, business planning, budget development, and forecasting.
  • Experience in governmental settings and the public sector is preferred.
  • Designation as a Chartered Financial Analyst, Certified Public Accountant, or Certified Management Accountant is preferred.
  • Excellent communication skills, written and oral; comfortable communicating key data, including presentations to senior management and outside stakeholders/partners.
  • Superb people skills, including the ability to connect with and inspire a wide range of stakeholders; someone who is visible, approachable, and emotionally intelligent.
  • Highly collaborative; enjoys engaging 1:1 with staff at all levels, and from all areas of the organization, not just the departments they oversee.
  • Strong organizational and prioritization skills with the ability to manage multiple projects/priorities while maintaining vigilant attention to detail.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, OR TO APPLY, PLEASE CONTACT:

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO APPLY, PLEASE CONTACT:

Shira Jacobs, Director, Blair Search Partners
1855 1st Ave., Suite 300, San Diego, CA 92101
shira@blairsearchpartners.com